Refrigerator shelf construction



United States Patent 2,724,629 REFRIGERATOR SHELF CONSTRUCTION Application AugustS, 1953, Serial No. 372,46l)

11 Claims. or. 312-274 My invention relates to refrigerator cabinets and pertains more particularly to refrigerator cabinet constructions including revolvable item support members.

The conventional household refrigerator cabinet is rectangular in cross-section and includes one or more food storage compartments of similar configuration in order to utilize most effectively the space usually available in a home for a refrigerator. Previously, revolvable item support members such as revolvable shelves have been provided in the storage compartments of this type of refrigerator; however, these revolvable members have been circular which usually resulted in an uneconomical utilization of the available food storage space.

Accordingly, the primary object of my invention is to provide in a refrigerator cabinet of rectangular cross section, new and improved means for providing revolvable item support members in the cabinet while utilizing with maximum economy the available space in the cabinet.

Another object of my invention is to provide in a refrigerator cabinet of rectangular cross-section a new and improved arrangement including substantially rectangular item support members adapted for economically utilizing spacein the cabinet and being revolvable for affording easy access to items supported thereby.

Still another object of my invention is to provide in a refrigerator of rectangular cross-section and including a door for closing an access opening therein a new and improved arrangement including rectangularitem support members for economically utilizing the space in the cabinet and means whereby movement of the door to an open position renders the support members revolvable foreasy access to all items supported thereby.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

In carrying out the objects of my invention, 1 provide a refrigerator cabinet of rectangular cross-section and having a door closing an access opening to a compartment of similar cross-section configuration. Associated with the door and conforming substantially to the walls of the compartment is a revolvable item support member. The support member is positioned in an inner position in the compartment when the door is closed in which position the support member is rendered unrevolvable by the walls of the compartment. When the door is opened, the support member is moved to an outer position adjacent the access openingin which it is freely revolvable.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference maybe had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a refrigerator partly broken away toillustrate my invention;

Fig.2 lis a section taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. l andlooking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustratingthe manner in which the shelves are mounted on the post; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of alternate means for revolvably mounting a support member.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown in Fig. 1 a refrigerator cabinet generally designated 1. The cabinet 1 includes an outer case 2 and a suitably spaced apart liner 3. Filling the space between the outer case and liner is suitable insulative material designated 4 and closing the space between the edges of the outer case and liner is a breaker strip 5.

The liner 3 defines a food storage compartment 6, in the upper portion of which is located a cooling unit, indicated by 7 and adapted for maintaining a satisfactorily low temperature in the food storage compartment. Closing an access opening to the food storage compartment 6 and suitably hung on the outer case 2 by a pair of hinges 8 (only one of which is shown in Fig. 2) is a door 9. The cabinet 1 is of the conventional household type and, as best seen. in Fig. 2, the cabinet and the food storage compartment 6 therein are rectangular in cross-section.

Disposed in the food compartment 6 is a vertically extending post 10. The post 16 is adapted for being moved from an inner positionsubstantially central in the food storage compartment 6 to an outer position adjacent the access opening when the refrigerator door 9 is opened, and returned in a like manner to the inner position when the door is closed. To accomplish this, I have provided means whereby the post is mounted for swinging movement from a side wall of the liner 3. This provision includes a pair of arms 11 each of which is suitably fitted near its midpoint on an extremity of the post 10. One end of each arm 11 is pivotally connected to a bracket 12 (only one of which is shown) suitably mounted on the side wall of the liner 3 opposite the hinged edge of the door 9 and adjacent the accessopening to the food storage compartment. The opposite ends of the arms 11 are pivotally connected by meansof a pair of links 13 to a pair of brackets 14 suitably mounted in vertical alignment and spaced apart relationship on the inner side of the door 9 adjacent the hinged edge thereof.

In order to guide the movement of the post 10 between the inner and outer positions thereof and to assist in sup porting the post, I have provided a roller 15 and a rail 16. As best seen in Figs. 1 and 3, the roller 15 is journaled between pendent legs 17 of a member 18 secured, as by welding, to the lower extremity of the post 10. The rail 16 is suitably secured to the bottom wall of the liner 3 and, as seen in Fig. 2, is arcuate to correspond with the path of travel of the post 10 between the inner and outer positions thereof.

When the door 9 is closed in the manner shown in Fig. 1

and in solid lines in Fig. 2, the roller 15 is disposed on the rear portion of the rail 16 and the post 10 is in its inner substantially central position in the food storage compartment 6. When the door 9 is opened to the dash line position of Fig. 2, the links 13 and arms 11 are actuated to the dash line positions thereof and the post 10 is moved to its outer position adjacent the access opening, being guided in movement to this position by cooperation of the roller 15 carried on the lower end of the post with the arcuate rail 16 secured to the lower wall of the liner. The links 13, arms 11, the roller 15 and the rail 16 are also effective in returning the post 10 to its inner position in a guided manner when the door is again closed.

Revolvably mounted on the post 10 in any suitable manner and arranged in vertically spaced apart relationship is a plurality of item support members or shelves 19. While I have shown an arrangement wherein all the shelves are revolvable together on the post, it will be seen thatthe shelves could. be individually revolvable. It will be seen further that means could be provided for adjusting the spacing between the shelves. It will be seen still further that while I have shown the members 19 as shelves, they could, if desired, be in the form of pans or baskets.

As best seen in Fig. 2, the support members 19 are substantially rectangular in configuration, including arcuate side portions. When the door 9 is closed and the post 10 is in its inner position as shown in Fig. l and in solid lines in Fig. 2, thesubstantial rectangular configuration of the members 19 results in each support member 19 substantially filling or conforming to the cross-sectional area available therefor in the food storage compartment 6. Or in other words, the members 19 conform substantially to the food storage compartment 6 to utilize with the greatest possible economy the space available therefor in the compartment. It will be seen, however, that if the door 9 was opened Without affecting the position of the post 10, the support members 19 would not be revolvable on the post, owing to the substantial conformation thereof with the walls of the food storage compartment 6. Any attempt to revolve the shelves while the post is in its inner position would be thwarted by engagement of the shelves with the rear wall of the liner 3. As pointed out above, however,

the opening of the door 9 is effective through the links 1.3, the arms 11, the roller and the rail 16 for swinging the post in a guided and supported manner from the inner solid line position of Fig. 2 to the broken line or outer position of Fig. 2. Thus, the shelves are so positioned when the door is opened as to clear the back wall of the liner 3 and are freely revolvable to any angular position for providing easy access to items stored anywhere thereon.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 3, I have further provided in the revolvable shelf construction a pair of pans 20. The pans 20 are each supported slideably in a pair of rails 21 secured to the underside of the lowermost one of the shelves 19. Additionally, the pans are of such dimensions as not to extend beyond the perimeter of the shelf which would adversely affect the revolvability of the shelf. No stopping means is provided on either the pan or rails. Therefore, the pans are slideable into and out of the rails from either ends thereof. This provision, in combination with the revolvability of the shelf supporting the pans afford easy access into the pans from either ends thereof.

As seen in Fig. 1, my invention is also applicable for providing easy access to items stored in containers which might be located in a low-level compartment 22 disposed beneath the food storage compartment 6. The compartment 22 includes an access opening which is closed by a door 23. This compartment may be uninsulated and serve as a vegetable bin or may be insulated and suitably refrigerated for serving as a freezer compartment. In either case, the item support or containing member could be a basket 24, as shown, or a deep pan. The basket 24 is of the same substantially rectangular cross-sectional configuration as the shelves 19 to utilize with maximum economy the space in the compartment 22 and is rotatably mounted on a vertical post 25 The post 25 is similar to but shorter than the post 19 and like the post 10 is adapted for being moved from an inner position substantially central in the compartment 22 to an outer position adjacent the access opening when the door 23 is opened and returned to the inner position when the door is closed. The structure provided for moving the post 25 is identical to that for actuating the post 10. A pair of levers 26 is provided and each is suitably pivoted at its mid-point on an extremity of the post 25. One end of each arm 26 is pivotally connected to a bracket (not shown) suitably mounted, on the side wall of the compartment 22 opposite the hinged edge of the door and adjacent the access opening to the compartment. A pair of links 27 connects the opposite ends of arms 26 to a pair of brackets mounted suitably in spaced apart relationship and in vertical alignment on the inner side of the door 23 adjacent the hinged edge thereof.

Guiding the movement of the post 25 between its inner and outer positions are a roller 28 and an arcuate rail 29. The roller 28 is journaled between the pendent legs of a the door 23 is opened, the post 25 is thereby swung to its outer position and the basket 24 is moved to a position corresponding to the dash line position of the shelf 19 in Fig. 2. Thus, the basket 24 is moved from the inner position in which it would be prevented from revolving in the compartment 22 to the outer position in which it is freely revolvable on the post 25. This arrangement facilitates considerably access to items stored in a lowlevel compartment such as a food bin or freezer compartment located in a refrigerator cabinetbeneath the usual food storage compartment. It is an improvement over ordinary low-level compartments or drawers in that the user is not required to reach into the compartment and by simply revolving the basket is able to move into easy reach any items stored in the basket.

It is to be understood that while I have shown the posts 19 and 25 and the support members revolvably mounted thereon as being mounted to a side wall of the liner for swinging movement between the inner and outer positions thereof, the posts and support members can be moveable between the inner and outer positions in any other suitable manner. Additionally, the posts and support members need not be moveable between the inner and outer positions through opening and closing movements of the refrigerator doors. The doors can be disassociated from these structures and other means provided for moving them between their inner and outer positions. For instance, the user may manually move the posts between the positions in which the support members are unrevolvable and revolvable or motor means independent of the door or energized through operation of the door could be utilized.

As seen in Fig. 4 the means for revolvably mounting the container or basket 24 can be modified to eliminate the post 25. Instead of relying on the post for revolvably mounting the basket between the arms 26, elongated members or straps 31 and 32 can be secured across the top and bottom of the basket, respectively, for having the arms 26 pivotally connected thereto, as at 33.

While I have shown and described specific embodiments of my invention, I do not desire my invention to be limited to the particular form shown and described and I intend by the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a refrigerator cabinet, a food storage'compartment of rectangular cross-section including an access opening, a vertical post, means mounting said post for swinging movement on a side wall of said compartment between an inner position and an outer position adjacent said access opening, and a plurality of shelves mounted revolvably and in vertically spaced apart relationship upon said post, said shelves being shaped to conform substantially to said compartment, and shelves being rendered unrevolvable by the walls of said compartment when said post is in said inner position, said shelves being free to revolve when said post is in said outer position.

2. In a refrigerator cabinet, a food storage compartment of rectangular cross-section including an access opening, a door for closing said access opening, a vertical post, means mounting said post for swinging movement on a side wall of said compartment between an inner position substantially central in said compartment and an outer position adjacent said access opening, a plurality of shelves mounted revolvably and in vertically spaced apart relationship upon said post, said shelves being shaped to conform substantially to said compartment, said shelves being renderedunrevolvable by the walls of said compart- I'n'erit when said post is in said inner position, said shelves being free to revolve when said post is in said outer position, and means connecting said door and said means mounting said post whereby said post is positioned in said inner position in said compartment when said door is closed and swung to said outer position when said door is opened.

3. In a refrigerator cabinet, a food storage compartment of rectangular cross-section including an access opening, a vertical post, means mounting said post for swinging movement on a side wall of said compartment between an inner position substantially central in said compartment and an outer position adjacent said access opening, an arcuate rail on the lower wall of said compartment, a roller carried by said post and riding on said rail, said rail and said roller guiding movement of and assisting in supporting said post, and a plurality of shelves mounted revolvably and in vertically spaced apart relationship on said post, said shelves being shaped to con form substantially to said compartment, said shelves being rendered unrevolvable by the walls of said compartment when said post is in said inner position, said shelves being free to revolve when said post is in said outer position. t

4. In a refrigerator cabinet, 2. food storage compartment of rectangular cross-section including an access opening, a vertical post, means mounting said post for swinging movement on a side wall of said compartment between an inner position substantially central in said compartment and an outer position adjacent said access opening, and a plurality of shelves mounted revolvably and in vertically spaced apart relationship on said post, said shelves being shaped to conform substantially to said compartment, said shelves being rendered unrevolvable by the walls of said compartment when said post is in said inner position, saidshelves being free to revolve when said post is in said outer position, a pan adapted for being confinable within the perimeter of one of said shelves, and means for slidably supporting said pan on the underside of one of said shelves, said pan being slidable out of said last-mentioned means from either end thereof.

5. In a refrigerator cabinet, a food storage compartment of rectangular cross-section including an access opening, a door for closing said access opening, a pair of arms mounting said post for swinging movement on a side wall of said compartment between an inner position substantially central in said compartment and an outer position adjacent said access opening, an arcuate rail on the lower wall of said compartment, a roller carried by said post and riding on said rail, said rail and said roller guiding said movement of and assisting in supporting said post, a plurality of shelves mounted revolvably and in vertically spaced apart relationship on said post, said shelves being shaped to conform substantially to said compartment, said shelves being rendered unrevolvable by the walls of said compartment when said post is in said inner position, said shelves being free to revolve when said post is in said outer position, a pan adapted for being confined within the perimeter of one of said shelves, means for slidably supporting said pan on the underside of said one of said shelves, said pan being slidable out of said last-mentioned means from either end thereof, and a pair of links connecting said door and said pair of arms whereby said post is positioned in said inner position of said compartment when said door is closed and swung to said outer position when said door is opened.

6. In a refrigerator cabinet, a compartment of rectangular cross-section, a pair of arms pivotally mounted in spaced apart relationship on a side wall of said compartment, and a container mounted revolvably between said arms, said container being shaped to conform substantially to said compartment, said arms and said container being movable between an inner position in said compartment in which said container is rendered unre container being movable between an inner position in said compartment in which said container is rendered unrevolvable by the walls of said compartment and an outer position in which said container is freely revolvable, and means connecting said arms and said door whereby said arms and said container are positioned in said inner position when said door is closed and swung to said outer position when said door is opened.

8. In a refrigerator cabinet, a low-level compartment including an access opening, a vertical post, means mounting said post for swinging movement on a side wall of said compartment between an inner position substantially central in said compartment and an outer position adjacent said access opening, and a container mounted revolvably on said post, said container being shaped to conform substantially to said compartment, said container being rendered unrevolvable by the walls of said compartment when said post is in said inner position, said container being free to revolve when said post is in said outer position.

9. In a refrigerator cabinet, a low-level compartment of rectangular cross-section including an access opening, a vertical post, means mounting said post for swinging movement on a side wall of said compartment between an inner position substantially central in said compartment and an outer position adjacent said access opening, an arcuate rail on the lower wall of said compartment, a roller carried by said post riding on said rail, said rail and roller guiding said movement of and assisting in supporting said post, and a container mounted revolvably on said post, said container being shaped to conform substantially to said compartment, said container being rendered unrevolvably by the walls of said compartment when said post is in said inner position, said container being free to revolve when said post is in said outer position.

10. In a refrigerator cabinet, a low-level compartment of rectangular cross-section including an access opening, a door for closing said access opening, a vertical post, means mounting said post for swinging movement on a side wall of said compartment between an inner position substantially central in said compartment and an outer position adjacent said access opening, a container mounted revolvably on said post, said container being shaped to conform substantially to said compartment, said container being rendered unrevolvable by the walls of said compartment when said post is in said inner position, said container being free to revolve when said post is in said outer position, and means connecting said door and said means mounting said post whereby said post is positioned in said inner position when said door is closed and swung to said outer position when said door is opened.

11. In a refrigerator cabinet, a low-level compartment of rectangular cross-section including an access opening, a door for closing said access opening, a vertical post, a pair of arms mounting said post for swinging movement on a side wall of said compartment between an inner position substantially central in said compartment and an outer position adjacent said access opening, an arcuate rail on the lower wall of said compartment, a roller carried by said post and riding ,on said rail, said rail and roller guiding said movement of and assisting in supporting said post, a container mounted revolvably on said post, said container being shaped to conform substantially to said compartment, said container being rendered unrevolvable by the walls of said compartment when said post is in said inner position, said container being free to revolve when said post is in said outer position, and a pair of links connecting said door and said arms whereby said post is positioned in said inner position when said door is closed and swung to said outer position when said door is opened.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Kirchner Mar. 4, 1873 Brown Oct. 23, 1900 Emmons Aug. 30,1910 Hainzigianis Jan. 11, 1927 Kjellgren Oct. 27, 1953 

